[K-SCIENCE] Steamed, Freeze-Dried Mature Silkworms

A local research team has discovered that silkworms, known to help control blood sugar, are also good for the health of the liver.

In particular, the team has found that steamed and freeze-dried mature silkworms, called "Hongjam" in Korean, have excellent effects in preventing and treating liver cancer, cirrhosis, and hepatitis.

The silkworm's preferred food is mulberry leaves and the body of a mature silkworm is full of proteins to produce silk.

The research team injected one gram of Hongjam powder into the body of a mouse every day and found the number of malignant tumors inside the mouse had been reduced by a whopping 88 percent.

Also, there was an outstanding decrease in dangerous cell mutation, cancer cell mobility and the recurrence of cancer cells.


[Kim Eun-Hee, professor, CHA University]
"The amino acids (contained in 'Hongjam') are known to work to prevent liver cancer by speeding up metabolic activities and causing detoxification in the liver."

The death rate from liver cancer is 21 out of every 100,000 people and is second to the rate of lung cancer.

Officials at the state Rural Development Administration (RDA) expect the sericulture industry to expand across the country's farming regions owing to Hongjam's anti-cancer and cancer-prevention effects.

Besides, the RAD says its research team has been studying the potential effects of silkworms in skin care, hair loss prevention, and brain healthcare, to further verify the medical efficacies of silkworms.